Cross-country car shipping
Boston to Los Angeles, New York to Phoenix, Springfield to San Diego. One quote, one dispatcher and one vetted carrier for the whole trip, from your door on one coast to the new one on the other.
- 48 contiguous states
- Door to door
- Dispatch 24/7
- New York to Phoenix2,410 mi
- New York to Los Angeles2,790 mi
- Springfield to Los Angeles2,850 mi
- Boston to Los Angeles2,990 mi
Approximate driving miles. A dispatcher prices coast-to-coast trips by phone.
Cross-country car shipping is the long haul: 2,000 miles or more, often from one coast to the other. It is also where shipping makes the most sense, because the alternative is a week behind the wheel.
What cross-country car shipping involves
A cross-country shipment is usually carried by a single truck from pickup to delivery. The driver loads your car at your door, works west or east across several time zones with stops for other customers on the way, and delivers to the address you gave us. We arrange it door to door anywhere in the 48 contiguous states.
Most of our coast-to-coast trips start in Massachusetts, Connecticut or New York, but the same service runs in the other direction, and between any two states that are a long way apart.
The interstates that carry your car
The carrier picks the route, based on its other stops, the season and road conditions. Most coast-to-coast trips from the Northeast follow one of three broad corridors:
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Northern route
Out along I-90 or I-80 through Ohio, Chicago and the plains toward Denver, Salt Lake City, the Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest. The most direct line west, with mountain passes that can slow trips in winter.
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Central route
Across the middle of the country on I-70 and I-40, through St. Louis, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque toward Arizona and Southern California.
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Southern route
Down the East Coast, then west on I-20 and I-10 through Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix. Longer on the map, but it avoids the worst winter weather.
How much cross-country car shipping costs
Coast-to-coast trips are priced by a dispatcher, by phone. You fill in the same quote form; instead of an instant number, we call you with an estimate. Or call (413) 231-6888 now, 24/7.
| Route | Distance | Typical transit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA to Dallas, TX | About 1,770 mi | Typically 4 to 7 days | Get your price |
| New York, NY to Phoenix, AZ | About 2,410 mi | Typically 7 to 10 days | Get your price |
| New York, NY to Los Angeles, CA | About 2,790 mi | Typically 7 to 10 days | Get your price |
| Hartford, CT to Los Angeles, CA | About 2,830 mi | Typically 7 to 10 days | Get your price |
| Springfield, MA to Los Angeles, CA | About 2,850 mi | Typically 7 to 10 days | Get your price |
| Boston, MA to Los Angeles, CA | About 2,990 mi | Typically 7 to 10 days | Get your price |
Distances are approximate driving miles. Transit times are typical industry ranges once the car is picked up, not guarantees. Your price comes from your exact addresses in the quote form.
What goes into the estimate is the same as on shorter trips: the distance between your addresses, open or enclosed transport, the vehicle, whether it runs and the season. Enclosed and expedited transport cost more than open, and so do larger vehicles and cars that don’t run. See the car shipping cost calculator, or our Massachusetts to California car shipping route.
Get a coast-to-coast estimate
Start with both places, then add the car and how you want it to ride. A dispatcher calls you back with an estimate and the timing.
Prefer to talk? Call (413) 231-6888, 24/7
Ship it or drive it?
For a trip of 2,000 miles or more, here is what each choice involves. A dispatcher gives you the shipping side.
- Door to door, anywhere in the contiguous U.S.
- 48 states
- Usually one truck for the whole trip
- 1 carrier
- A dispatcher you can call, day or night
- 24/7
If you drive it yourself
- Typically five days or more on the road, coast to coast
- Fuel, hotels and meals along the way
- Around 3,000 miles of wear, tires and oil life
- A flight home if you are not staying
If you ship it
- One estimate from a dispatcher, confirmed before you book
- You fly or drive another car, on your schedule
- The miles go on the truck, not your car
- It arrives at your new address
How long it takes to ship a car across the country
Two things add up: the wait for pickup, and the drive. As typical industry ranges, the pickup window on a standard shipment is a few business days, and a trip of 2,000 miles or more takes about 7 to 10 days once the car is on the truck. Drivers work within federal hours-of-service limits, and a carrier with several stops spends part of each day loading and unloading.
If you need the car collected quickly, ask for expedited car shipping: it shortens the wait for a truck, though not the drive itself. Our guide to how long car shipping takes goes into more detail.
Coast-to-coast car shipping through the seasons
Across the industry, summer is typically the busiest time for long-distance moves, and winter brings snow to the northern and central routes, so a trip in January can take longer than the same one in May. Wherever possible, book a little earlier in peak season and leave some slack around your dates in winter.
Open or enclosed for a long trip
Most cars cross the country on open carriers. A longer trip does mean more days of weather and road grit, so for a classic, exotic or freshly painted car, enclosed car transport is worth the extra. Enclosed costs more than open, and on a coast-to-coast trip the difference adds up; your dispatcher gives you both prices.
How a cross-country shipment works
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Request your quote
Enter both addresses or ZIP codes. For a cross-country trip a dispatcher calls you with an estimate. No obligation.
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We match you with a carrier
A dispatcher confirms the route, dates and price, then books a vetted, insured, FMCSA-compliant and DOT-licensed carrier running coast to coast.
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Pickup and transport
The driver collects at your door within your pickup window, after a thorough on-site inspection with you. On a trip of a week or more, we stay in touch with you the whole way.
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Delivery and completion
The car is delivered to your new address. You do another thorough on-site inspection with the driver and the shipment is complete.
Moving at the same time?
If you are traveling while your car is on the truck, give your dispatcher a phone number you will actually answer on the road, and name someone who can receive the car if you arrive after it does.
Preparing a car for a long-distance trip
- Leave around a quarter tank of fuel: enough to drive on and off the truck, and less weight on board.
- Fix any leaks and check the battery before pickup. A car that won’t start at delivery needs a winch.
- Take everything you need for the next two weeks out of the car. Personal items over 50 lb in total add a heavy-load fee.
- Wash it and take dated photos of every panel before the driver arrives.
The full checklist is in how to prepare your car for shipping.
Cross-country questions
Still unsure? Call (413) 231-6888 any time, day or night.
How much does cross-country car shipping cost?
Cross-country trips are priced by a Carvoya dispatcher by phone, because so much depends on the season, the route and your exact addresses. Fill in the quote form with both addresses, the car and how you want it to ride, and we’ll call you with an estimate. Or call (413) 231-6888 now, 24/7.
How long does it take to ship a car across the country?
As a typical industry range, a coast-to-coast trip takes about 7 to 10 days once the car is picked up, after a pickup window that is typically a few business days. Weather, especially in the mountains in winter, can add time.
Is it cheaper to ship a car or drive it across the country?
It depends on your car and your time. Driving coast to coast typically takes five days or more, with fuel, hotels, meals and about 3,000 miles of wear on the car. Shipping costs one known amount and saves the trip. A dispatcher can give you the shipping estimate to compare.
Does my car change trucks on the way?
Usually not. A cross-country shipment is normally carried by one carrier from pickup to delivery. If anything about the plan changes, your dispatcher tells you.
Should I choose enclosed transport for a cross-country move?
For a valuable, classic or freshly painted car, it is worth considering: a long trip means more days of weather and road grit. For an everyday car, open transport is the usual choice.
Do you ship to every state across the country?
We arrange door-to-door transport to and from anywhere in the 48 contiguous states.
Coast to coast, door to door.
Get your estimate in about a minute, or talk to a dispatcher now. No obligation either way.
Dispatch answers 24/7 at (413) 231-6888